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Roma Support Group - Annual Report 2013 / 2014

Introduction

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Annual Report 2013 / 2014

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Welcome to our Annual Report for the year 2013-14. There are moments in Roma history, which remind us that not much has changed in Europe for us since the medieval ages. Last year was such a reminder, leaving many of us fearful, amazed, appalled and very sad.

The story of Maria, a blond Roma girl in Greece instigated media hysteria on a global scale fuelling old anti-Gypsy, Romaphobic stereotypes, which have never been effectively challenged. These stereotypes about Roma ‘stealing’, ‘buying’, ‘kidnapping’ children and committing all sorts of crimes still regrettably form much of contemporary thinking about Roma, demonising us and distorting our situation in modern society. The consequences of these media attacks have been chilling, suffice to mention a DNA sample taken from a Roma child in Dublin to establish her identity and rising anti-Roma tension across British cities and beyond.

The anti-Roma media campaign led from the ‘Maria’ case to Mr Blunkett, MP being misquoted over the fears of riots against Roma, and again the press making apocalyptic predictions of ‘waves’ of Roma migration from Romania and Bulgaria due to changes in British immigration legislation from January 2014. In all this frenzy and hysteria, there was hardly any space for an audible Roma ‘voice’ except for the efforts made by the Roma Support Group, which highlighted our reality of being an “excluded and ignored” community, making an effort to contribute to British multi-cultural and economic life.

1998 RSG is established at a meeting attended by over 80 Roma people at the Holy Cross Church in Kings Cross.

1999 An advice service and social activities are launched at our first base at St Stephens Church in Royal Oak.

2000 Advice services start at White City Community Centre and Froud Community Centre in Manor Park.

2001 A grant from the Association of London Government enables us to develop our Advice & Advocacy Project.

2002 Our new venue in Harold Road Centre in Upton Park is opened.An expansion of our services and the establishment of an art and sport project takes place thanks to funding from the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

2004 We move to a new office in Canning Town and centralise our work in east London.

2003 The production of our first publication - Colours of Hope: A Little Book by Roma Refugee Children for Everybody

2006 Launch of the DVD project Be Roma or Die Tryin’

Participation in history project Belonging: Voices of London’s Refugees at the Museum of London.

2005 Release of CD Journey by our cultural project Romani Rad.

2008 Organising the first national celebration of the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month in London and Leeds.

2007 The First London Roma Talent Show is organised.The grand finale takes place at Stratford Circus.

2009 Organising Young Roma Awareness Seminar and launching of the Mentoring Project Evaluation Report.

2010Organising ‘The Big Issue for Roma: Exclusion or Engagement?’ conference Old Town Hall, Stratford

2011 Launch of Roma Support & Engagement Programme, our 1st national project

2012 Organising an exhibition, From India to Islington: a 1,000 Year Roma Journey, in partnership with Islington Museum.

2013 Elder Roma participate in the Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorative event as the representatives of all Roma and Sinti victims and survivors of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution during the 2nd World War.

Release of CD, Roma Youth Music, recorded by young Roma and their Roma teachers.

Last year’s work can be summarised as our ongoing progress in enabling Roma individuals and communities to integrate in the UK, as well as enhancing their understanding of what they are integrating into. Our Advice & Advocacy projects have helped many to overcome their barriers of poverty and homelessness, increasingly focussing on their employment and employability skills. Our work with Elder Roma has boosted their independence, facilitated intergenerational dialogue, making them indispensable in representing their communities.

Our work with Roma children and their parents have assisted them with making some of their educational and vocational aspirations fulfilled while ensuring that local schools understand better their needs. Roma music and sport tutors have played a vital role in training and teaching young Roma to succeed in their chosen areas of interest not only acting as role models but also reinforcing the concepts of ‘competitiveness’ and ‘success’ as being compatible with Roma cultural and social values.

As in previous years, we have devoted much energy and thought to the ways of enhancing the public understanding of Roma culture, drawing from a rich heritage of Roma arts, particularly through music events and concerts, some of which were exceptionally pioneering and inspiring. We have also successfully continued to share our expertise and models of best practice with hundreds of professionals through our training sessions and expert advice interventions in many localities in Britain.

Finally, we have started a new Policy and Campaigning Project, which aims to enable Roma community members to participate in the decision making process, have a voice on matters that are really important to them and empower them to influence policies which affect them. We hope that this work will ensure that the Roma perspective is heard and respected by decision and policy makers while strengthening Roma communities’ role in co-shaping the social and political environment that they can integrate to.

The following pages of this report will reveal more details about our work, which would not be possible without the commitment and enthusiasm of our Volunteers, Staff and Trustees. I would also like to thank all our Funders and Donors for believing in our work and enabling us to continue it despite many adversities. It is heartening to know that there are many people out there, who were equally appalled by the recent Romaphobic media hysteria. I would like to extend my gratitude for their support and express our willingness to collaborate with everyone, who wants to join us in building a more tolerant and just society.

Roza KotowiczChairperson

Introduction


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Roma Support Group - Annual Report 2013 / 2014`

Roma Support Group History

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Our VisionRoma communities areempowered through the

realisation that their strength lies within every

individual & his/ her fulfilment as a member of

society.

Our MissionTo improve the quality of life for Roma refugees and

migrants by helping them to overcome prejudice, isolation

and vulnerability.To make the public aware of Roma culture, heritage and

the current situation of Roma refugees & migrants in the UK

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VolunteersStaff Profiles

Advice & Advocacy Casework Supervisor (P/T)Supervising and supporting Community Advice and Advocacy Workers with their casework, overseeing their training needs and ensuring that our advice service adheres to Advice Quality Standard (AQS)

Art Development Co-ordinator (P/T)Developing art programmes for Roma children and young people; organising and participating in cultural and art events

Aspiration Project Workers (P/T)Providing educational advocacy and empowering young Roma to achieve and aspire through organising sport activities, mentoring, homework support and other after-school activities

Chief Executive (F/T)Overall coordination/ management of the organisation and its activities; staff recruitment and supervision; policy planning and development; fundraising and financial management; publicity and promotion; office management

Community Advice and Advocacy Worker (P/T)Addressing the needs of Roma service users and providing advice, information, advocacy and language support with particular emphasis on Roma families and vulnerable people

Deputy Co-ordinator (P/T)Supporting overall co-ordination and management of the organisation and office management

Elder Roma Engagement Project Co-ordinator (P/T) and Project Worker (P/T)Running a peer-advocacy programme for Elder Roma to empower them to become a catalyst for positive changes in their community

Financial Officer (P/T)Day-to-day accounts; budgets, preparing accounts for Audit; Management Accounts reports

Office Maintenance (P/T)Keeping our working environment safe and clean; maintaining our office garden

Policy & Information Worker (P/T)Influencing policies which affect Roma refugees and migrants, ensuring that Roma voice is effectively communicated to policy makers, the media and other key stakeholders

Roma Advocacy & Campaigning Project Worker (P/T)Developing a Roma-led advocacy and campaign programme to enhance empowerment, civic participation and social inclusion of Roma refugees and migrants in London

Roma Support & Engagement Programme Leaders (P/T)Providing support to statutory and non-statutory organisations working with Roma communities across Britain through training and consultancy


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Images above:Veronika Nagy, RSG Volunteer and Zuzanna Krzemien, EVS Volunteer

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`The organisation has been able to achieve much more than its resources would allow thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Volunteers. The Roma Support Group has developed a Volunteer Training Programme for each service area and implements a Volunteer Policy in line with good practice guidelines. Volunteers are involved in and help with all projects, in particular: Advice & Advocacy, Art, Aspiration and Policy & Campaigning Projects.

The Roma Support Group has also benefited from its partnership with the European Voluntary Service and Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, which enables us to host one Volunteer from an EU country on a full time basis for the duration of one year.

Furthermore, we have provided work placements for Social Work students from the University of East London, as well as students of Goldsmiths, (University of London), University of Padua (Erasmus Student Mobility Programme) and a number of secondary schools in Newham and Waltham Forest.

During the last year 33 Volunteers have contributed an average 147 hours per week!

Thank you!

“The past 12 months were a great adventure to me. I learnt a lot about Roma culture, gained work experience and met many interesting people. As a result of my voluntary service, I became more confident with taking new responsibilities and

improved my English. I learnt a lot from Roma clients, as many of them has absolutely fascinating stories

to tell. This experience was very precious, as I have never had contact with the Roma community before…

I think that volunteering for the RSG is a great European Voluntary Service’s project and I am very

happy that I decided to apply for it. I feel that working here has developed my personality and opened my eyes to many issues that are rarely discussed by non-Roma people in Poland. I believe that the RSG is crucial to

the well-being of the Roma in London and volunteering for them was a very rewarding experience, as I really felt that I was helping other people. Thank you to the RSG staff and to the Roma community that made this

year so exceptional.”

Zuzanna Krzemien, EVS/ARSP Volunteer

“As a PhD student from Hungary, I was volunteering for the Roma Support Group for eight month when I conducted my fieldwork in London. I supported advice and advocacy work for Roma clients regarding welfare, housing and debt money management. I became involved with advocacy work for a

number of reasons. It allowed me to give something back to the community that I felt that I had gained so much from.

It also served as a learning experience about challenges that migrant families face, as well as how organisations - such as

the RSG – seek to meet those challenges.

The RSG is absolutely glowing with passion for what it does and there are some uniquely delightful aspects of the RSG that demonstrate its commitment, involvement, and integrity. It believes and demonstrates the importance of

recognising Roma migrants’ needs and it proves how small frontline organisations are able to fill the gaps between Roma

migrants and the host society.

Volunteering for the RSG gave me the opportunity to extend my networks with other organisations and charities,

share my skills and experience with the workers and the local community. It was a great opportunity to expand my

knowledge about social policies, gain more experience in the field of advice and advocacy and learn more about Romany dialects and culture…Volunteering has really boosted my understanding of NGO’s work with BMER groups and

added new aspects to my research methodology, all of which can be used in my future projects…

My most sincere thanks to the Roma Support Group for giving me the chance to do such a great work with such

bright, warm people.”

Veronika Nagy, RSG Volunteer

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Highlights of achievements and activities

Elder Roma Engagement Project

Advice and Advocacy enable Roma beneficiaries to overcome some of the barriers, which they face in their process of integration with the wider society (e.g.: poverty, housing issues, homelessness, health inequalities and employability issues). It is delivered from our two centres in East and West London (Canning Town and White City) where we support approx. 200 families each month through appointments and drop-in system.

Our Advice & Advocacy service reaches some of the most vulnerable and excluded members of the Roma community, including: older people, single parents, people with mental health issues and physical disabilities. Our beneficiaries are mainly residents of London Boroughs of Newham, Hammersmith & Fulham, Redbridge, Ealing, Enfield and Waltham Forest.

During the last year we have offered this support to 2,218 Roma refugees and migrants from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania and the Balkan region, achieving the outcomes below:

the restructure of the whole welfare system, immigration/ welfare changes effecting EU migrants, legal aid cuts and closure of many public services, Older Roma beneficiaries reported a sense of empowerment generated by better understanding of their rights and entitlements, boosted confidence, increased abilities to manage their day-to-day problems and feeling less isolated.

The Project has transformed the way Older Roma are perceived, shifting their image from those, who are vulnerable and dependent to those, who are influential and indispensable in representing the community and making decisions. As a catalyst for positive change in their communities, Older Roma challenged anti-Roma stereotypes through their work in schools, as well as participating in Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month, focus group meetings and action research.

The Project with its focus on social change, self and community empowerment has significantly contributed to strengthening the perception that the Roma migrants to the West are not just a problem to be persuaded to stay at home and contained within Eastern/ Central Europe but are part of the solution to our fractured society and that they can give something back. The words of one of the Peer Advocates convey this message of hope and promise: “Do not give up on us…”


aaa80% of beneficiaries had reduced poverty through debt management and access to welfare system


53% of beneficiaries were prevented from homelessness

27% of beneficiaries had improved employability skills

“I come here for advice when I need it the most, when I don’t understand what I should do, when I feel lost and when all doors seem to be closed. There are many people who feel the same way

I do. The support I get here helps me to tackle my problems and gives me

confidence. There is no another place in London like that for us.”

(Roma beneficiary L.B. Hammersmith & Fulham)

“Once, when I had no money at all, I painted our sitting room and

kitchen with my husband’s shaving brush. You get a place in a horrific

state and as soon as you make it look respectable, you receive notice to quit. Landlords get their houses

decorated for free and then push the rent up or sell the property.”

(Roma beneficiary, L. B. Newham)

Elder Roma Engagement Project supports Older Roma to become a catalyst for positive changes in their communities through: peer advocacy and intergenerational activities to enhance an understanding of Roma culture.

The Peer Advocacy scheme has addressed the barriers and challenges that Older Roma face by a two-pronged approach:

1. One-to-one Peer Advocacy, which helped to tackle an individual’s practical needs and barriers while ensuring a feeling of safety and security;

2. Group Advocacy, which helped to boost individual and collective confidence.

These two aspects of our approach were inter-linked and monitoring beneficiaries’ “journeys” towards their empowerment continued to be the most important lesson from the Project.

Five Peer Advocates were trained and supervised to deliver one-to-one advocacy sessions for 90 older Roma, addressing issues such as welfare rights, housing options, ways to reduce dependency on families, managing debt, health & safety, safeguarding vulnerable adults, and access to health services.

Peer Advocacy has continued to make significant impact on Older Roma people’s lives. Despite

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Advice and Advocacy

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Sport ProjectsAspiration Project

Roma Aspiration Project aims to increase life aspirations of Roma children and young people; enhance their confidence and increase their health awareness and well-being. Last year, 97 beneficiaries were supported through one-to-one education advocacy, outreach work and a programme of after-school activities involving football, karate, dance, music classes, home tutorials and homework club.The beneficiaries have also taken part in various seasonal activities (e.g.: dance and music performances, sport events) and outings to Kids Cookery School, Richmond Park, paintballing and a murder mystery day at a local police station.The differences made by the Project in the lives of beneficiaries last year are evidenced by an increase in the level of their satisfaction with educational attainment; enjoying their schools and increased self-confidence in their chosen areas of interest, such as: sport and arts. The beneficiaries have also made progress in their health awareness through their participation in health related events, sporting and physical activities. Of the total number of beneficiaries supported through one-to-one education advocacy:

• 20% demonstrated reduced truancy and challenging behaviour

• 0% have been permanently excluded from school

• 100% successfully transitioned from primary to secondary school and remain in full time education (in contrast to the national dropout rate of 20% for Gypsy/Roma children)

• 90% aged 16-18 progressed to further education

Last year we enabled 34 Roma children and young people to develop new skills and confidence through their participation in football training and karate sessions.

Football:In addition to our regular football training and matches, seven young Roma have undergone Football Leadership Training, while one has completed Football Coaching Level 1 qualifications.

Karate:Karate sessions focused on building self-confidence and strengthening mental and physical development of the participants. By engaging local Roma and non-Roma young people they also play an important role in developing their social skills and community spirit through regular training and sporting competitions.Last year, our Karate club won 10 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronze medals in kata and kumite categories during competitions in Heston, Hammersmith and Hounslow. These medals were won by Roma and non-Roma contestants from our club, including a Roma girl (9 years old), who won 2 gold medals!On two occasions young Roma became champions of tournaments defeating all players in their categories. Most notable was a case of a young Roma (14 years old), who despite his disability (deafness in both ears), was nominated as the best karate champion of the tournament in May 2013. Young Roma contestants participating in karate championships told us about their strong motivation to achieve, “to show that we, Roma, can be the best!”, while the judges were impressed with their team spirit and mutual support: “They give us an astounding example of what good team work is all about. It is hardly ever seen in this sport.”


“Playing football makes me happy because I can

represent my community. It gives me something to look forward to, and keeps me doing something positive for my community (which

makes me proud).”(Young Roma, 17 years old)

The Project also supports young Roma from local schools to undertake work experience. One student commented that “over the past week I have learnt new things which I think will be really useful for me in the future. I also had a chance to observe advice appointments, help fill in forms and make telephone calls. I got to see what types of problems my community faces here in the UK and how these can be dealt with. I would like to work in an office like Roma Support Group when I leave school”.

Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers:Through taking part in a Challenge Network initiative (part of the National Citizen Service), young Roma delivered a presentation about the history and culture of the Roma community to a group of young non-Roma people. The participants were fascinated by the presentation and talked openly about how their views on Roma/ Gypsies had changed. The Roma presenters were empowered by the experience and commented on how this had a positive impact on their self-confidence: “I never thought I could do that. It felt good to tell people who I am”.

“What I love the most about my school

is learning!” (Young Roma

13 yrs old)


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A visit to a local Police Station and Paintballing outing, 2013

A visit to the K

ids' Cookery School, 2013

Paintball games with young Roma, 2013

Young Roma Karate Champion, 2013 photo courtesy of Retts Wood

Above: Roma United Team, 2013Right: Karate sessions, 2013 - photo courtesy of Retts Wood8 9

“My volunteering experience in the RSG office was fantastic. I was treated like an adult. I would not have this opportunity anywhere else… The RSG made me proud to be Roma.” (Young Roma, 16 years old)

Homework Club, 2013

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Roma Support and Engagement Programme

The Roma Support & Engagement Programme (RSEP) is our response to an increasing need amongst service providers to ensure specialist interventions for Roma families in the UK. The RSEP was funded by the Department of Education until March 2013 and one of its aims was to develop a range of chargeable services (e.g.: training, expert advice), which address Roma families’ needs while improving our financial sustainability and organisational capacity.

Our training courses and expert advice services can now be commissioned by agencies and organisations working with Roma refugees and migrants across the UK thus enabling us to continue this work.

Training:Based on our consultation with the Roma community and our models of good practice, our training programme includes subjects, such as: Introduction to Roma Culture, History and Tradition; Working with Roma through Interpreters; Positive Interventions for Roma in Health and Education Context; Safeguarding in Roma Community.

Feedback from participants:

“I will be more aware of how to engage and be inclusive of the cultures/beliefs, history and promoting Roma culture and history in the centre.”

“The training has challenged my working practice and it has made me more mindful in working with the group.”

“Very informative, interesting day, I can take this back to our support team to raise their awareness of issues Roma people face.”


Last year, we delivered 17 training sessions, which were attended by 341 professionals.

93% of the participants stated that our training delivery either fully met or exceeded their expectations.

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Feedback from clients:

“We commissioned this guide from the Roma Support Group because so many social workers told us they needed to know more about working with East European Roma families successfully, but couldn’t find relevant material. In particular, social workers are finding the explanation of culture, tradition and taboos and the tips to working with families really useful in their daily practice and say that the guide is helping them form better relationships with Roma families.” (Community Care Inform)

“Partnership with the Roma Support Group was important because it enabled us to positively engage with the Roma family we worked with. We were also provided with advice about the Roma culture which enabled us to adapt our parenting mentoring programme. As a result, we were left with a bespoke programme for other Roma families as well.” (Children Services Manager, South East England)

“I feel the young women benefited from the project as they got involved in something that they really enjoyed. They gained some practical skills that may divert them from their offending behaviour; the result was tangible and gave them a real sense of achievement.” (Youth Offending Service, Key Worker)

Expert Advice/Commissions:

Last year we delivered seven expert advice interventions including:

• Two safeguarding interventions for Children’s Services;

• Focus group meetings for two universities

• A project aimed at reducing youth reoffending for the Youth Offending Service

• Community consultation event for an NGO

• A project aimed at improving attendance and attainment of Roma pupils for a secondary school

• Writing a Roma Culture Guide for the Community Care Inform.

Through the expert advice and training courses we have indirectly supported over 2,170 Roma individuals across the UK.

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A seminar for professionals, 2013

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Image above: An intergenerational seminar with Roma community members, 2013

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Policy & Campaigning Project Arts Development Project Policy & Campaigning Project started in the autumn 2013, to improve the social inclusion of Roma refugees and migrants through their civic participation in decision making structures. The strength of this Project is in its community empowerment approach, as it gives Roma people a voice on matters that affect them on a local, national and European level. The specific aims of the Project are:

• To enhance social inclusion of Roma refugees/ migrants by developing Roma-led campaigning;

• To increase Roma participation in the local decision making processes;

• To encourage practice that is more responsive to the needs of Roma migrants;

• To influence and co-shape local, national and European policies, which affect Roma refugees and migrants, ensuring that their perspective is effectively communicated to the UK Government.

The Project develops our former advocacy work and takes it to the next level by utilising data from our on-going frontline work as evidence and empowering Roma peer advocates in London. The Project’s activities include: delivering the Roma Refugee and Migrant Forum in East London; building strategic relationships with civil servants and parliamentarians; representing UK-based Roma refugees and migrants’ perspective to the European decision makers; developing RSG’s policy position based on evidence provided by Roma community members and our casework; and publishing quarterly e-newsletters to increase awareness about Roma-specific needs amongst statutory and non-statutory agencies.

Art Development Project continued to build bridges between Roma arts, British society and mainstream art organisations. Last year, our art programme included: delivering instrumental music classes for young Roma and non-Roma people in L.B. Newham; promoting Roma musicians and artists to perform in art events across London; facilitating traditional Roma dance sessions and music rehearsals.

Instrumental classes (accordion and violin), which Roma tutors delivered at the Newham Academy of Music benefited 28 young Roma and non-Roma people, who attended our weekly classes of traditional Roma music.

Last year’s evaluation of classes’ impact showed an increase in: music making and instrumental skills (88% of beneficiaries); knowledge of studio recording technology (37%) and performing skills (70%). 75% of young beneficiaries reported their aspiration to pursue a music career in the future.

The classes led to nine stage performances where young beneficiaries were able to showcase their skills, talents and share their passion for music in venues, such as: Hackney Museum, Hackney Empire and RichMix.They have also produced a music CD, Roma Youth Music, aiming to enhance an understanding of Roma culture by celebrating and sharing Roma music heritage.In the summer of 2013, Roma artists had a joint-performance with Gurt Lush Choir and St Mary Redcliffe School All-Stars Symphony Orchestra performing in Colston Hall (Bristol). They also performed in Leicester, Nottingham and in the Olympic Park, outreaching in total 950 people.

One of the Roma artists stated after her performance in Bristol: “I have dreamt all my life to hear Roma music performed by a “real” Orchestra and sang by a “real” choir. The effect was astonishing and the fact that I could contribute to it was something that exceeded my life dreams.”

“In every lesson we learn something new. When I

performed in front of people, I was very nervous at first but

then I was really excited. Now, I feel very proud when I can play

Roma music in public.” (Young Roma, 11 years old)


Looking Ahead

• Continuing to develop all our existing frontline projects

• Developing our local and national Policy, Information and Campaigning work in order to empower Roma communities and strengthen our effectiveness and capacity to influence policy and decision makers

• Further developing the Roma Support and Engagement Programme, which enables us to share our expertise and models of good practice with statutory and non-statutory agencies and develop our enterprising skills

• Promoting an understanding of Roma culture and history

• Implementing our fundraising strategy in order to ensure the continuity of frontline services in the areas of advice & advocacy, education support, aspiration, oral history & health-related projects.


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Roma Youth Music CD, published by the RSG in 2013, Drawing by Kveta Grundzova

Roma activists at Roma Nation Day, 2013

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“It gave me great satisfaction to observe the progress that children were making. Our last CD is a tribute to their

achievements and hard work.”(Roma Music Tutor)

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Thanks to.....Financial Statement

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who supported the work of the Roma Support Group during 2013-14 through grants and the donation of their valuable time.

Management Committee:

Prof. Thomas Acton OBE (Patron)Ms Roza Kotowicz (Chair)Mr Andrew Nash (Treasurer)Rev. Rosemary Fairhurst (Secretary)Mr Daniel BrzezinskiMr Sylwester Herman (appointed 18 Nov 2013)Ms Michaela JarosinskaMs Cecylia KierpaczMr Peter NortonMr Cornel RezmivesMr Mircea RostasMr Leon WisniewskiMs Anthea Wormington

Staff:

Ricardo Acuna, Dragica Felja, Edyta Gach-Karapetyan, Tania Gessi, Laura Greason, Sylvia Ingmire, Przemek Kierpacz, Agata Kupis, Ewelina Pawlowska, Simon Poffley, Ona Risoviene, Andy Shallice, Gabriela Smolinska-Poffley

Sessional Staff:

Benjamin Czureja, John Das, Mura Hamza, Danka Herakova, Silviu Ivanciu, Erene Kaptani, Stanislaw Kierpacz, Sara Kotowicz, Ionel Mandache, Mihaela Rosca, Bobi Rostas, Corina Rostas, Daniel Siwak, Anna Szoma

Volunteers:

Luca Antonini, Cristina Aftene, Stefan-Victor Arhire, Francesca Bertoni, Matej Clej, Artur Conka, Cristina Coptu, Marek Czureja, Robert Dolinski, Julia El Mecky, Adrienne Green, Bettina Ganser, Gaby Hajrula, Andy Ingmire, Jessica von Kaenel, Magda Keska, Zuzanna Krzemien, Jana Liebau, Richard Lipman, Mia Lucas, Sarah- Jane Miller, Veronika Nagy, Jeremy O’Callaghan, Viktor Pawlikowski, Amanda Petrovic, Henrietta Platman, Cate Rickards, Pauline Rowe, Claude Savona, Samantha Stevens, Lujza Sustrikova, Marysia Szapszowicz, Peter Williams, Retts Wood

Funding Sources:

Arts Council EnglandAston-MansfieldBarrow Cadbury TrustBBC Children in NeedComic ReliefDepartment for EducationThe Jack Petchey FoundationMatrix ChambersNational Foundation for Youth MusicThe National Lottery through the Big Lottery FundThe Odin Charitable TrustTravellers Aid TrustTrust for LondonThe Tudor TrustWestway Development Trust

Special thanks to Mrs Setsuko Kuga Cornish and the memory of Don Palmer


A drawing by a Roma child

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Introduction

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A Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales No: 04645981 Registered Charity No: 1103782 Registered Office Address: Alan Shelley House, 318 Barking Road, London E13 8HL

Office Address: Alan Shelley House318 Barking Road LondonE13 8HL(Please do not send any correspondence to this address)

Postal Address:Roma Support GroupP.O. Box 23610London E7 0XB

Design and printing

funded by

Images: Front cover - Roma participation in Anti-racist Day, 2014 Back cover - “The New Londoners” Photo courtesy of Retts Wood

Contact Details

General Information:Website: www.romasupportgroup.org.ukEmail: [email protected]: 020 7511 0800 - Reception(Line staffed on Monday, Tues & Thurs from 10.15am until 1.00pm)Mobile: 07949 089 778 (Mon- Wed)Fax: 020 7511 0822

Projects:To get in touch with our projects call or email us:

Advice & Advocacy and Education Support ProjectsTel: 020 7511 [email protected]

Roma Support & Engagement ProgrammeTel: 020 7511 8245 / 020 7511 6508 [email protected]

roma support group - home · 2020. 3. 17. · 2 welcome to our annual report for the year 2013-14....

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